Summer, winter, spring or fall. It is always the right season to visit Door County Peninsula.
Known for being a popular summer retreat for outdoor water sports, Door Country, Wisconsin has 300 miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Spring brings colorful flowers in full bloom as well as cherry and apple blossoms. Garden, nature and lighthouse walks are popular activities along with a festival to celebrate the natural heritage. Fall foliage is in all its glory in this region and your senses will be filled with the sights, smells, sounds and savorings of the harvest season.
There are also many seasonal activities to enjoy during the cooler months including wine-tasting tours at local vineyards, horseback riding on winter trails and candlelight skiing at state parks. Festive celebrations are plentiful. Holidays and Holly Nights is held October through December, and Capture the Spirit of a Door County Christmas runs from November through the holidays. Ride on a horse-drawn sleigh, go caroling, and watch a parade. Contribute to the collective oohs and aahs of a tree-lighting ceremony. Take a candlelight tour of fine historic inns and bed and breakfasts. Find creative gifts at arts and crafts fairs. You can even brave the New Year with a plunge at the Annual Polar Bear Swim.
Explore the region during what some might consider the off-season and take advantage of special bed and breakfast packages and deals between the months of December and March. While many Door County inns do close for the cold season, these four bed and breakfast inns welcome guests year-round.
Snuggle under a blanket on your covered veranda to enjoy 1,100 feet of Green Bay shoreline at Country House Resort in Sister Bay. Watch the sun set against the autumn leaves. A chilly day feels warmer with your dog by your side as you hike through 27 wooded acres. Play a board game or curl up with a book. Stay three or more nights during the quiet season to receive dinner at White Gull Inn or Alexander's Restaurant. A romance package includes a two-person massage at this romantic Wisconsin inn.
Active and retired military are honored with special discounts under new management at The Barbican in Sturgeon Bay. Each fireside guest room has a sitting room and a double whirlpool tub. Stay in your comfy pajamas and let the innkeepers deliver a homemade hearty breakfast to your door. Located in the historic waterfront district, this inn is only one block from downtown and the bay. Brave the cold as you ice fish for perch, trout, pike, and whitefish.
Enjoy in-house music from Random Orbit, an acoustic folk music group, on Thursday evenings at White Lace Inn in Sturgeon Bay. This inn is comprised of four neighboring turn-of-the-century homes with romantic fireside guest rooms. Soak in a whirlpool bath for two as you sip champagne. A different breakfast entrée is served each morning in the Main House. During the various seasons, more than 700 couples have said "I do" at this inn.
Everyone is welcome, including pets, at the ADA-accessible Feathered Star Bed and Breakfast in Egg Harbor. This barrier-free inn has large bathrooms and roll-in showers. Explore the three-acre property then get cozy next to the warm fireplace in your room. Each accommodation showcases a different quilt pattern or technique. The village celebrates fall with pumpkins, scarecrows, and more during the Pumpkin Patch Festival in October. Visit the Shipwrecked Brewery Restaurant for local brews all year long.
Whether you stay for a night, get away for the weekend or indulge in a vacation, Door County is a great choice any time.
--Shirley Anitra Swagerty